Switch housing



Dec, 2,

W. V. ORR

SWITCH HOUSING Filed May 27 192 INVENTOR. WiHium V. Orr

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED vs'rn'ras WILLIAM V. ORR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SWITCH iaovsme.

Application filed May 27, 1921. Serial No. 473,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM V. ORR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented .a certain new and useful Improvement in Switeh Housings, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description, reference'being had adapte to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to electric switches and has for its objects the provision of a water (proof and weather proof housing for the reception of a standard type of switch and to enable its ready operation, while preventing the access of water or other foreign matter to the switch parts or leakage of electricity to the casing. My improved switch casing has been devised primarily for use in connection with domestic electric machinery such as clothes washing and dish washing machines, which must be maintained at all times in operative condition notwithstandin the spilling and slopping of water and w ich must be safe-for inexperienced persons and free from danger of accidental injury to children. However, I find it of much value in connection with other household electric devices such as stoves, ironing machines, refrigerating apparatus and also various outdoor switches and,for marine work. 1

In the drawings accompanying and form ing a part of this application I have illustrated one physical form in which my inventive idea can be embodied although it will be understood that many changes in design and appearance can be made without departing from the scope of my invention. Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of one form of my im roved switch casing; Fig. 2 is a longitu inal sectional view thereof; and Fig. 3 a transverse. sectional view corresponding to the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Descrlbing the parts by reference charaction of each casing member op osite its neck is formed in a manner to e detachably connected to the other member in watershedding relation, the member here illustrated as having exterior flange 5 adapted to overlap the other member and to be secured thereto by means of radial screws 6.

The end of the neck 3 is formed with an internal flange 8 traversed by the reciprocable member 9 whose'inner end is formed with an enlarged head 10 adapted to revent the withdrawal of such member. igidly secured to the outer end of the member 9 is an operating head 12 provided with a depending collar 13 loosely surroundingthe neck 3 in shielding relation. The length of the collar 13 is greater than the length of the movement of the member 9 sothat the joint between the parts is covered at all times.

The shape of the casing interior depends upon the shape of the switch with which the same is to be used. In the present embodiment the switch is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3, the essential parts consisting of a body 15 of insulating material having at one end the lead wires 16 which pass through the neck 4 and having at the other end the push button 17 projecting into the neck 3. The switch here chosen for illustrative urposes is of the push type, having a spira portion 18 adapted to be rotated by pressure 11 on the button 17 thereby advancing the ratc et 19, which by means of a suitable pawl 20 advances a air of contact members 2121 throu h'90 egrees of arc at each revolution where y one de ression of the button will brin said mem rs into engagement with the ed contact members 22 carried by the switch body and connected to the wires 16, and the next movement will terminate the engagement between them. It will be understood that I do not restrict myself to this type of switch either as respects the reciprocation of the button as contradistinguished from a rotation thereof or as regards the making and breaking contacts by means of an inward ,movement only.

Preferably the interior of the casing is lined with msulating material asshown at 20 and the neck with insulating material as shown at 21, in addition to which the head 10 is preferably provided with an insulating projection 22 which presses against the button 17 thereby keeping all parts away from metal contact.

It will be understood that many changes in desi can be made and that I accordingly limit myself in no wise except as speing said neck'" in cifically recited in the claims hereto annexed.

Having thus described my invention that I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with an. electric switch of the push-button snap type, of a housing surrounding said switch and having a neck in alignment with and surrounding the button, said neck having an internal flange at its upper end, a reciprocable member trav ersing said flange and having at 'ltS inner an enlarged head adapted to bear against said button, and an operati'n head carried by said member outside said ange and having an elongated shielding portion surroundall reciprocal positions of said member.

2. A casin for an electric switch comprising a pair 0 hollow members each having a neck and adapted to receive an electric switch of the push-button snap type with its operating member projecting into one neck, and its connecting wires traversing the other neck, means for securing said members detachably together, and a switch operating member at all times surrounding and over lapping that neck into which the corres 0nding member of the switch projects amfhaving a part-operatively engaging such switch member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM V. ORR. 

